Oh really? Well it’s a great job for whoever wants to get their foot in the door in the medical field. Great pay and flexibility with hours. Yes when I upload videos I try not to talk too much so you guys can see what we technicians do lol. Hope my videos help out

Glad my videos are helping you out, good luck on your training! You got this!

No problem! I hope you find my videos helpful! 😊

That’s great! I hope everything turns out good for you. Thank you for watching my videos and good luck! 👍🏻

Oh nice! Yeah it’s true, once you know majority of things about SPD, it’s safe to say you can work anywhere now

Yes! You’re absolutely right. I only did that just so my viewers can see what exactly I am doing, although I should have explained it in the video so thank you for pointing that out.

She was checking it on the sterile side to see if it was properly cleaned.

YESSSSS . I do this job also and it can almost put me to sleep sometimes lol

@@bobbycoffey7761 I’ve been in spd now since may lol let me tell you it can definitely be a lot but I’m still really happy with what I do

I can try to make a video for that. I haven’t really had time to make videos lately since I’ve been busy with work and life lol but I can definitely try. Thank you for watching my videos 😊

Thank you! I’m glad they helped you out

Are the sessions online? Would like to try as well.

@@niccolethomas4591 Yes. Some schools offer this online!

@@niccolethomas4591 I’m doing face to face classes but it has online as well.

You’re welcome, glad my videos helped you out 😊

You’re welcome! Hope you are enjoying my videos

Thanks dude and good luck!

@@2thang2 is there an online sterile processing program you would recommend to get certified ?

@@juanisidro4849 you can try ashworth college. I think you start off by paying $1 then $799 afterwards or something like that. Might have to check into it

@@2thang2 thanks for the response. I was actually checking that website out the other day . Do you have a friend that has gotten certified through ash worth ?

@@juanisidro4849 no. I don’t know anyone personally that has. I do know that medtech is also another online school as well

I recently graduated from my sterile program and can't make up my mind to go on into surgical technologist or just work as a SPD. My only motivation is money because I know it's much more as CST. But I notice most people don't last long as CST. Can you share your experiences as SPD and your thoughts.

@@catjuice8420 first thing first. Just be aware that there are plenty of ways to make money in SPD. The biggest and easiest way is by contract through agencies such as Cross Country, LRS etc. These agencies offer a multitude of assignments. It's quite easy to find employment if your willing to travel t ok different states for 13 weeks at a time. You would average anywhere between 33 and sometimes 50/hour. Definitely research different agencies first if it's about money. Also, of you want to follow the CST route, everyone on this site can agree you better have thick skin and good organization skills. I got along great with surgeons, but it was the nurses that I had issues with. That's just my account. It may be different for everyone. Just be aware that you WILL get yelled at, talked down to sometimes. But don't take it personally. It's surgery, there's nothing like it. There is adrenaline accompanied with it as well and having the satisfaction knowing that YOU helped a patient when they are most vulnerable. Nothing can take that away from you. Whatever path you choose be sure that it will make you happy.

@@catjuice8420 is there a difference between CST and SPD?

I just started my Spd I’m having a hard time with the instruments it’s a lot of them I’m mostly confused

@@margarettami2877 it's hard in the beginning, I was trained from the start but now I know mostly everything. You'll get there, don't be afraid to ask questions

@@p-yro7791 thank You 🙏.

I like working in decon too. I get to listen to music lol

Depends on state and hospital size. Smaller hospitals unfortunately can pay $9-$14, bigger hospitals pay $18-$23+ depending on experience

Thank you for watching my videos! And it usually depends on how dirty the instruments are. If it’s not too bad then i’ll just rinse them with the sprayer and put them in the washer. If it’s too dirty i’ll do my best to remove the bioburden then will put them inside the ultrasonic

@@2thang2 the ultrasonic is the only wash machine that’s in decontamination right? U just started my Spd I’m struggling with the names it’s a lot of instruments

@@margarettami2877 yes that’s correct, aside from the washers, the ultrasonic is the only machine in there. Ultrasonic is used to get rid of the hard to reach bioburden. Especially used for canulas like for example the laparoscopic sets

Lol thank you so much! 😊

Yes don’t be nervous when you’re handling the instruments. Always pay close attention to how they train you and how they do certain things. Don’t be scared to ask any questions you may have. If they ask you if you understood don’t say “yeah” if you’re completely still unsure cause they will know that you aren’t taking initiative to learn those things correctly. Don’t come to work late. If you do that I believe you should be fine and probably could be offered a job if you show them 110% of your effort

Thank you! I hope my videos are helpful to you. And i’ll try to make one a few people are actually requesting that from me. It’s just that I’ve been pretty busy lately 😔

Wow you put your power in the washer? We don't do that.

CRCST is possibly the easiest test I've ever taken.

@@HisHowliness CRCST? What’s that mean?

@@lopezbiglos Google is a wonderful thing

Although it’s not a requirement, I personally do make sure everything is accounted for

Out hospital uses a system that has an interactive checklist. You also learn what goes in what trays through experience.

I can definitely try to make that video for you!

I work 1st shift. I was covering for a coworker that works 3rd shift. To answer your question, yes the person on 3rd shift has to do everything. Including the testing on all machines.

What is 3rd shift? Or I mean time of that shift?

12 to 8:30am for most hospitals

@@misbahzahid1604 well usually 3rd shift starts at 11pm to 7:30am. You’re basically doing night shift or graveyard shift however you prefer it

@@2thang2 o

This is true! Also stacking the pans on top of wrap items can also create holes. Once it reaches the OR it’s considered compromise and unsterile which we would need to One Tray it and causes delay during surgery

And if i brush cannulated instruments, i brush it towards a towel, downward so if there’s bioburden inside it, it wont splash on other instruments..brush it away from clean instruments, will save you time. :)

@@Jaspercards23 that sounds like a good technique. I usually brush and flush underneath the water to prevent aerosols. Even if that were to happen at least you still have a mask on with your face shield on

I think for me it was around 7 months or so. I pretty much felt the same way. The first hospital I worked at just put me in decon for the very longest so I didn’t really have a lot of knowledge other than decon and assembling sets. It was until after I left that hospital and starting working at a different hospital, they trained me by assigning me to different places every week which really helped a lot because the person who helped me was really patient with me. I asked a lot of questions instead of saying “yeah” every time they asked me if I got it. It just showed them that I really wanted to do the job right rather then just winging it I guess, if that makes sense. It really depends on who’s training you

@@2thang2 I passed the exams and I’m finding it hard to get a hospital for 400hrs Pls help me. I’m in NY

@@smh2641 you need help finding a hospital to do your externship?

@@2thang2 Yh internship I really need help I finding one

I am from NY too, where I can find a hospital for 400 hours ?

Yes it’s a stringer and the clear thing is a block for the stringer lol. The IAHCSMM exam is a whole combination of random questions. They do this so they know you are knowledgeable of everything in sterile processing

Wide mouth stringer. Most sterile processing department use them in decon. To keep the instruments open.

That’s a good question actually. Honestly in my professional opinion, I would say no. Reason why is because there is a lot of information you need to know before actually getting into the field. For example you need to know what the difference is between a BI and Control when using the sterilizers same with the sterrad machine. Temperatures and pressures on the sterilizers as well as the ultrasonic machines in the decontamination room and washers. No to mention memorizing the instruments names and what they are used for, this is extremely important because when you are assembling sets you NEED to know the name of every instrument that is in the count sheet and etc. In my personal opinion if they say they would train you and you have no experience whatsoever then I’d say go for it because they’re demonstrating that they will take the time to train you right to make sure you do the job correctly since they are aware you have no experience they will go in depth with their training. Hope this helps!

@@2thang2 thank you so much! Appreciate it 👍

Dude that is hard, in my dept, we hired 4 people with no sspd background… only 1 person excelled and the rest are average to low… focus on getting the job first, training is second thing… if you have keen attention to detail, and good working ethics, training is easy peasy…

Don’t quote me on this but I believe it is possible. When I took the exam they didn’t ask me if I completed school or not all they cared about was if I paid. The exam is $125 (unless they raised their price) however it was free for me since it’s part of the school. I do know MAJORITY of hospitals now require a certificate of completion from school and externship forms to see if you completed 200 hours of externship when you apply for a job. Hope this information helps!

Aw thank you! Im glad my videos helped you out! I’ve been meaning to upload more but work has been pretty busy lol. It’s a good program to start off. The program is called sterile Processing tech. Depending on where you live the tuition can vary from $2k- $10k for the program that’s excluding books, scrubs, externship, and the state exam to be certified. Hope this helps

@@2thang2 yes helps out alot thankyou. How long is the program?

@@terieshalewis905 the program is only 5 months and that’s including externship.

@@2thang2 thankyou looking forward to starting soon 😊

@@terieshalewis905 good luck!

It depends on the hospital. For example where I work we would take turns after taking our lunch. The last hospital I used to work at they would schedule you a place to work for a week. One week you would be in decon and the next week you would be in assembly. Hope this helps

That’s true. I remember when I use to work at kaiser they just introduced this to us. At first we didn’t have that, now we can’t do it without it lol

Really?! I thought I was the only one who listens to Logic! Finally someone with real taste in music lol

I have to hear multiple playlists at the same time from different coworkers. Sometimes it’s the news and music. I get headaches and can’t think 😅

I attended a school in the east bay. I went in person not online. This was before the pandemic

With this job? Yes absolutely! My coworker currently works 4 10’s and he says he loves his shift. Majority of hospitals are definitely capable of “creating” a shift for you as long as it is consistent and manageable by the department’s needs. Especially if the hospital is 24 hours.

@@2thang2 another question if you dont mind me asking I always read on reddit about how horrible the drama can be in those jobs... is it really as bad as everyone says? or is it just people venting and bitching on reddit all the time. I get drama at work isn't possible to fully avoid (I've worked a lot of food service)

@@vaporhazy I would say that drama in sterile processing (or any job) is inevitable. It depends on your coworkers and how you handle the drama yourself. For me personally I like to be cool with everyone and treat everyone the same, meaning no favoritism or only talking to certain people. I talk to everyone, and I think it’s safe to say that my coworkers like me. We hangout outside from work, our kids play together and when we’re at work we joke around and help each other. So I don’t deal with any drama (at least for now lol) but yeah I would say if you do decide to come into sterile processing you should come out as friendly and you should be good. I’ve worked at 4 different hospitals and I always kept my same character and still no drama so I think it also depends on yourself as well. I hope this information is useful

@@2thang2 thanks a lot

Often times yes, morning shift over here can be really slow

Yes you need experience to be a sterile processor. Typically hospitals look for a minimum of 6 months experience depending on the hospitals though. It is an easy job but learning the instrument names could be overwhelming at times. Majority of hospitals now require you to go to school for this. Not bad though it’s only 4 months

@@2thang2 what is a reasonable amount of money to pay for schooling? I've seen anywhere from $750 to $4000 for online training. I work so can't commit to classroom

@@brendafleming231 if you’ve seen $750 for online school then I’d definitely recommend taking it. The school I attended to now charges $10,000+ for this program. When I asked them why they raised up their prices they told me because everyone wants to do sterile Processing now.

@@2thang2 I did some reviews research on the $750 online course and there were lots of complaints. You basically get some books with no other support or training. People had no idea what they were doing and the customer service was non-existent. I'm 64 and worried I'll have to spend a lot of money, not be able to work and do classes at the same time (because I have to support myself), have to put in the extern time and start at low pay. I wish I had considered this 10 years ago. I have to work until I'm 70 and thought this might be a good job as I age. I'm in good shape physically and mentally for my age but now I'm re-thinking this. I really appreciate your responses, thank you. You seem like a hard worker plus you're putting yourself out there on KZfaq to help others. Me thinks you have a bright future ahead of you. Keep up the good work. Focus and don't let anyone mess up your career path. Many things in our life will come and go but being able to support yourself and advance in your career helps you financially, with self confidence and a better life. Good job!

@@brendafleming231 in that case if there’s a lot of complaints then I’d probably opt for another program. Schools should be able to help you and finding a job instead of leaving that to the student it’s not right especially if it’s a program that you are paying for. And thank you for that I try to make these videos so people can get a sense of how the job is in the real world. I appreciate that positivite response from you. Your kind words really made my day. I hope you find a good program out there that’ll help you achieve this goal and especially help you with finding externship out there. Good luck!

Absolutely! You can keep it, they do not force you to shave it off. They do however make you wear a beard cover. It’s required just in case the event your facial hair falls in the set. They do this to prevent that.

True. I definitely agree with you

Yeah there is a whole bunch of instruments to learn from. Literally thousands, don’t be overwhelmed though even OG techs that have years of experience dont know all the instruments

@@2thang2 thank You 🙏 I honestly didn’t expect to be that many instruments and the worse scenario I didn’t know the names that made hard for me. I just started on the 21s! I haven’t been to decont yet what advice would you give me

@@margarettami2877 what you would need to learn is the most common instruments used in procedures. Like curved kelly or straight mayo scissors. If you’re in decon you will see these instruments all the time and would be a great way for you to familiarize yourself with them. There are flash cards online on quizlet that will help you study them. That’s what I used during school and it helped me a lot. Hope this helps

Well honestly you never really stop learning, with sterile processing things constantly change throughout the department like the technology we use inside the hospital. You just need to learn the basics and mainly just remember the instrument names

I wouldn’t consider it to be an obstacle. I have a coworker who is 4’10 and works just fine.

DadBod by Logic

From personal experience, it’s only stressful when the department is short staffed. Other than that I wouldn’t say it’s stressful

I’ve been doing this for 6 years now. Once you start in the field you’ll see who wants to train you or not. Majority of people don’t like to train. Which is annoying in my opinion, how else are you suppose to learn? 🤦🏻‍♂️

im pretty sure the experience ,as time goes by ull, be ill be good in this field,,i love to learn from the people who do know well this job,i guess i hve to be lucky finding out what kind of people ill be working with in the future hehe,,,you make it looks so easy@@2thang2

Sterile processing is more than just a dish washer job. It involves the decontamination, sterilization, and maintenance of medical instruments and equipment used in healthcare settings. Sterile processing technicians play a critical role in ensuring that medical instruments are safe and ready for patient use. It requires specific knowledge of sterilization techniques, infection control, and proper handling of medical equipment. So it's a crucial and specialized role in healthcare that goes beyond just washing dishes 😊

No flushing, brushing or disassembling. That Trigen set gonna be hell of dirty.

Thank you! I’m glad my videos helped you out. And yes make lots of study guides! There’s a lot of important information you need to know. But mainly the most important thing is to memorize all the instruments names because some are easy and the rest of them are tricky because some instruments have several names. You should consider reading the IAHCSMM textbook it’s really helpful and gives you pictures of every instruments and shows you examples of DO’s and DON’Ts. It’s a really good paying job. Good way to get your foot in the door in the medical field

Thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏 🥰

@@2thang2 q

Oh really? I know some facilities where they process those differently. Some hospitals even have a special cycle for them for the washers

@@2thang2 Yes. And what was that you were doing to the batteries...we hand wash those as well before sterilizing

@@LuxLife24 i was hand washing them. The yellow hose I was using is a air hose

@@2thang2 oh , i see

System 8 strykers can go to the washer, but make sure to choose wash with no lubrication…

It’s not a go pro. I’m actually using glasses, snapchat spectacles to record a first person point of view. I prefer this type of recording better than go pro, although go pro does record in 4k the spectacles however don’t 😔 And what types of wraps does your hospital use? 🤔

Super cool. I want a pair!! The wrap is similar, it doesn't have the white 'guide' marks or the velcro. It's the same inside as it is outside.

@@lolaweston1364 Well I have two pairs if I knew you personally I would give it to you because I hardly use them. I’m starting to use them to record videos now lol

Mail them to me!!😁😁 I'll pay for the shipping!

@@lolaweston1364 lol I should do like a giveaway on my channel

I like that 😊 Might make that the title of my next video. Thank you ☺️

To my knowledge, it’s rare that a hospital will consider hiring you without certification. Majority of hospitals are requiring certification as well as certain number of hours of externship. I had to do 240 hours of externship and show proof that I went to school to get my hands on training. It just depends on the hospital that you are interested in. Hope this helps

Yes, you can Brenda

Well the school that I attended to made me memorize 300 instruments at first but there are way more than just 300. There are thousands of instruments out there. For me I just memorize like 10 a week that way it’s not overwhelming, now it’s like a piece of cake lol

@@2thang2 Is there still some you don't remember? Sorry just overthinking haha I really want to become one, I am just scared that I won't memorize all of them.

@@bgreenx3 don’t be scared lol. This is coming from someone who forgets what they did last week haha. Just try to focus really hard, like actually put a lot of effort into memorization and you will remember it trust me. I know more instruments than what the school has taught me. In reality though, I do not know ALL of them because they are thousands of different instruments and what surprises me is that one particular instrument will have like 3 different names when it’s mostly known for one common name. I think it’s weird how they do that, for example the Ferris Smith forceps is also called “Big Ugly’s”. However that name isn’t used anywhere (well at least the hospitals that I’ve worked at) when I mentioned that people looked at me very confused. So in reality the common name for that is Ferris Smith forceps. Hope this helps

@@2thang2 Lol, thank you :)

Well good for you if you memorized the instruments while studying… the thing is, it is very different if you are really on the job… there are specialty instruments, they look the same but not. For ex, schnidt clamp and holster clamp.. looks the same first glance but if you inspect it, they are different.. it is repetition, the key to memorizing instruments, unless you want to be a scrub tech..

Nice, congratulations on the job! I’m glad watching my videos helped you out. Advices I would give you is to familiarize yourself with the instruments, take the time to learn about the different surgical instruments, their names, and their functions. This will help you properly handle and process them. Follow protocols and guidelines, make sure to adhere to the established protocols and guidelines for instrument cleaning, sterilization, and storage. This will ensure that the instruments are safe and ready for use in surgeries. Pay attention to detail, sterile processing requires meticulous attention to detail. Double check that instruments are properly cleaned and make sure there is no blood/bioburden on the instruments after it comes out of the washer. The person in decon may have not cleaned it thoroughly, NEVER assume it’s clean especially with cannulas. Communication is key, collaborate with the surgical team and your coworkers to ensure effective communication. This will help speed up the instrument processing workflow and address any concerns or issues promptly. Stay organized, maintain a well organized workspace and keep track of instrument inventory. This will help you locate instruments easily and ensure that they are readily available when needed. Remember, starting a new job can be challenging, but with time and experience, you'll become more confident and proficient as a sterile processor. Good luck! 👍🏻

OMG those are a pain especially when they decide to bring all the case carts at once. Then the next shift thinks I didn’t do anything 😑

I went to CCMCC in California

Ok thank you. Im so interested in making this my career. How do you like it so far? And is there any small advice you can give me from educating to hands on..

@@lourinemoore2340 so far I still like it. Been doing this for about 6 years now, it’s only overwhelming when we’re so short staffed. As far as advice i’d say just memorize the instrument names really good because there are actually a lot to remember. One instrument will have about 3 to 4 names lol. In the field you will see a lot of people doing what they’re not supposed to do. Don’t follow their bad habits, especially if you plan on getting hired permanently

It’s a really good career path to get into, and sure if you have any questions you ask me on here. I’d be happy to answer anything!

@@2thang2 oh i just saw this now, is there a way we can chat?

@@TheXpertKnight you want to talk privately? If you have a question you can ask me here. No problem

@@2thang2 I would like to speak with you privately, is there a preferred way I can talk to you?

@@TheXpertKnight is it possible to send me a private message here on KZfaq?

Yes, that’s why wearing PPE is extremely important

Some facilities will not let you, but based on hospitals I’ve worked at they pretty much let you listen to it as long as you’re working so it just depends on the hospital

Really? Wow I’m pretty sure you will pass the test then. It’s common sense questions on the exam. It asks about temperatures and the spaulding classification system on which is considered critical, semi-critical, and non critical

Which test did you take?

@@2thang2 I passed my first try lol u were right lol

@@AG-ge6bt iahcsmm

@@Dominique216Congratulations! I’m glad you passed your exam. You’re now certified!

Really? How do you guys do it over there?

Lol my SPD is the same thing. I’m known for always listening to rap in decon 😂

Pay is really good considering the job we do is pretty easy. Depending on the hospital some pay starting as $38 an hour

@@2thang2 Where’s that? I know a guy who’s been SPD for 15 years at Scripps in San Diego & he’s finally making $35/hr

@@JesusBaptismGlobalOutreach really? Well I work at San Francisco. And as of right now (well at least to my knowledge) San Francisco General hospital start pay is $45 an hour. That’s for Tech I, so I’d imagine a tech III would be making way more

Hi, I will be starting school soon in Philadelphia. This is a career change for me. How is the pay, I’m so scared to make this move??

@@shawntaethompson61 that’s good! This is a chill job to start off with. Pay is really good. In San Francisco some hospitals offer $45 an hour

No it’s not hot in there. When you’re in the decontamination room it’s supposed to be set within a certain temperature so you won’t get hot in there. I know some facilities offer cooling vest so you can wear. I know kaiser offers that